New Mexico Scores High in Health Emergency Preparedness

New Mexico has achieved almost all of the 10 key indicators that measure state's health emergency preparedness capabilities, according to a national report that was released by Trust for America's Health. The "Ready or Not? Protecting the Public's Health from Disease, Disasters, and Bioterrorism" report examined how prepared each state is for a public health emergency.

"This report shows that we took the lessons of Hurricane Katrina seriously and have put into effect important steps such as a health care volunteer registry and protections for those workers to better prepare our state for a public health emergency," said Governor Bill Richardson.

New Mexico has achieved the following indicators:

• Has adequate plans to distribute emergency vaccines, antidotes and medical supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile
• Has purchased a portion of its share of federally-subsidized or unsubsidized antivirals to use during a pandemic flu
• Has sufficient laboratory capabilities to test for biological threats
• Can provide 24/7 laboratory coverage to analyze samples
• Uses a surveillance system compatible with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Electronic Disease Surveillance System
• Held emergency preparedness exercises in 2007 with health department officials and National Guard
• Has at least 14 Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers per 100,000 citizens
• Increased or maintained level of funding for public health services from FY 2005-06 to FY 2006-07

"We will continue to work with our local and state partners to ensure that New Mexico is ready to respond to a public health emergency," said Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo Vigil. "We all need to do our part to keep ourselves and our families safe."

In the next year, the Health Department plans to partner with the city of Albuquerque to develop the City Readiness Initiative, which includes a plan to provide treatment that prevents disease or stops it from spreading to the population residing in the metro area within 48 hours. The department will also work on building an in-state stockpile of medical supplies for distribution during a health emergency, conduct pilot projects in three communities to practice handling patient surge due to a large scale health emergency, such as an infectious disease pandemic.

The one indicator that New Mexico did not achieve in 2007 is maintaining or increasing the flu vaccination rate among people who are 65 and older. About 70 percent of that age group typically receives flu shot, according to department surveys. The department distributed 70,000 adult flu shots to its facilities and public health offices throughout the state.